Question

State the limitations of written down value method of depreciation.

Answer 1

Following are the limitations of the written down value method.

1. Assets cannot be completely written off:
   Under this method, the value of an asset even if it becomes obsolete and useless, cannot be reduced to zero and some balance would continue in the asset account.
2. Ignores the interest factor:
   This method does not take into account the loss of interest on the amount invested in the asset. The amount would have earned interest, had it been invested outside the business is not considered.
3. Difficulty in determining the rate of depreciation:
   Under this method, the rate of providing depreciation cannot be easily determined. The rate is generally kept higher because it takes very long time to write off an asset down to its scrap value.
4. Ignores the actual use of the asset:
   Under this method, a fixed rate of depreciation is provided on the written down value of the asset by applying the predetermined rate of depreciation on its original cost. But, the actual use of the asset is not considered in the computation of depreciation.